Suhbat or The Oral Tradition

Second talk in this series of 5 Sundays talks, first Sundays November through March, address the historical and practical importance of a guide on the Sufic Path. For more info about this series of talks. Second talk- Suhbat and the Oral Tradition,  Dec 6, 2009 at the Islamic Study Center in Charlottesville, VA. Suhbat and the Oral Tradition   by Shaykh Ahmed Abdur Rashid           pdf

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Hazrat Abdul Bari Shah (1859-1900 A.D.)

Hazrat Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) was a great saint and a truly universal being (insan-i-kamil). Over time, his importance and his contribution to Sufic thought and action is being more and more recognized throughout the world. Hazrat Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) was born in 1859 A.D. in Balgadhi (a village in India in the of Bengal). His father was an expert in both theology and spiritual sciences, and was a master of alchemy, that is the ability to transform materials from one substance to another. When Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) was only six years old, his father passed away, and his mother had to shoulder the full responsibility of raising the child. In accordance with the will of her husband, she moved from Balgadhi to Hoogli, near Calcutta. She spun thread to earn a livelihood. Her life was a model of patience and gratitude. Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) was so considerate that despite his early age, he tried to contribute to the family’s income by doing minor work to help his mother. After some time, at the request of a relative, the family moved from Hoogli to Naldanga. Here Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah’s mother would stay until her last breath, and here the holy tomb of Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) would eventually be situated. Once, when Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) was a child, some boys asked came to him and asked to accompany them in stealing coconuts. Initially he refused to go, but when they insisted, he agreed to join them. They reached the trees, and the other boys started picking coconuts. They asked Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) to stand watch nearby, ready to inform them if anyone approached. It happened that the coconut trees were near a graveyard. Suddenly, Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) saw a dead person coming towards him. This person said: ”Good boy, you were not born for this purpose.” Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) left his comrades there and returned home. Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) received no formal education. He was admitted to a school, but he did not like this type of education, and so he left school and engaged himself in various jobs. At last he got a position with a good salary at the railway. He could now have a better life, and also be in the company of friends. One night, Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) saw his father in a dream. He told him that he didn’t approve of the job at the railway because of corruption in the workplace. In his heart, Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) had remained detached from that employment, and when he got up in the morning, he decided to resign. His Arabic teacher and some of his friends tried to prevent him from resigning, warning him that it would be very difficult to get this kind of work again. He didn’t accept their advice, and left the railway. Shortly thereafter, he suffered from dysentery, so acute that people though he might not survive. Again he saw his father in a dream. He gave him something to eat, and he ate his fill. When he awoke, he felt better, and within a few days he was completely cured. By now, Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) was quite a changed person, devoting most of his time to spiritual pursuits. He was also searching for a Shaykh who could guide him in this path. He was first initiated by a great Chishti Shaykh, Hazrat Karim Bakhsh (r.a.), (the father of our Grand Shaykh), who happened to pass through Balgadhi. When Sayyid Abdul Bari Shah (r.a.) started observing pas-an-fas (awareness of breath) according to the instructions of his Shaykh, his heart was opened. He was very happy with the experience and began to take even more interest and to devote himself enthusiastically to this pursuit. But he was sorry that he could not see the Shaykh again. Read more

The Healing Light of the Prophet Muhammad (sal)

The Healing Light of the Prophet Muhammad (sal)

Bismillaahi-r-Rahmaani-r-RaheemOh Allah, we ask You for words which will make certain Your Mercy, actions which will make certain Your Forgiveness, freedom from every offence, a supply of every virtue, entering Jannah and safety from the Naar.

 

Allahumma inna nasaluka mujibati rahmatika, Wa’aza’ima magfiratika, wa salamata min kulli, Itmin, wal-ganimata min kulli birrin, wal-fawza bil-jannati min-a nnar.

The Healing Light of The Prophet Muhammad (saws)

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 (excerpt from lecture)

The Importance of Attitude

But we must also do our part.  Even the allopathic doctors now recognize that the attitude of the patient is a part of, if not at least half of the cure. Without the inner motivation, or the opportunity for that motivation, there can be no cure, no good health, no lasting happiness, and no purpose. 

 

How important is attitude?  We need only look at the example of the Prophet (sal) to see. 

Once a group of Jews in Medina greeted Nebi Muhammad (sal)) by saying, “Al Samu alaykum,” which means, “Death be upon you.”  Aisha (raa) grew angry and retorted, “May death be upon you, and curses!”  The Prophet (sal) disapproved of what Aisha (radiy Allahu Ta’aalaa anha) had said, commenting,

Innallaaha yuh.ibu-r-rifqa fi-l-amri kulih.

Truly Allah loves kindness in everything. 

 

Allah (swt) loves kindness in everything, from everyone, in every circumstance.  Even if there is no kindness in return, still, there should be kindness

 

We may say to ourselves that such attaining the goal of that frame of mind and heart is unattainable, but most important is our aspiration to that goal.  To aspire is natural (himma); but to have positive results, i.e. contentment, fulfillment, sense of progress, it is necessary also to extricate oneself from the grips of disillusionment, fear, and self-doubt. To identify these symptoms, we must genuinely ask ourselves whether or not the “I” wants to change.  Every one of us says we do, but it is normal to question whether our aspiration and intention (niyat) can be transformed into something of a higher nature; something that is lasting (a maqam), not a momentary experience.  Regular appointments with the spiritual doctor can assure us of progress toward full health and well being, but there is more to understand. The doctor prescribes or gives methods to practice, which assists our body, heart and soul to regulate themselves (like the immune system does for our physical body).

One Sufi master said that,

“No one may be transformed into something greater or higher than the ordinary man by any act or will from the Teacher.  Yet, somehow this expectation is fostered by some Teachers (and students), and certainly hoped for by indolent mureeds and mureedas.  It is not the role of the teacher to be a miracle worker, although to the receptive heart, many apparent miracles transpire between the teacher and the student. “

 

The guide certainly can help to mollify our reactions to circumstances; can give us new perspectives, better tools, inspiration, good guidance, and the continuous blessings of his knowledge and his power, developed through his efforts, meditations, prayers, and the blessings of his Shuyukh.  But, for the radical change that is necessary for the transformation from sleep to wakefulness, from illness to health, from fear to courage, from doubt to belief, from otherness and blame to selfness and responsibility, it requires totally sincere, practical effort and an active, participatory life in the good works of society, and of the Order, and of the enterprises of the Sheikh, with more than equal attention to inner development, prayer, meditation, service, and community responsibility. It requires that attitude of nebi Muhammad and openness for the fayat (divine

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The Voice of Oneness and Unity

 

See video of Ramadhan Retreat at SoulTV.net

 If you want to get more out of fasting than hunger or thirst, to nourish the spiritual side is to nourish the body too. Soultv.net  – click on “spirituality” channel

Lecture at Islamic Center in Richmond

Shaykh Ahmed Abdur Rashid was invited to speak at the Islamic Center in Richmond, Virginia, on March15, 2009.

  

THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD: THE UNIFYING VOICE OF ISLAM

Bismillâh, Alhamdulillâh

Praise be to Allah, the Turner of the hearts and sight.  O Allah, fix our hearts on the best of Your ways, and make us face You in our way, and bestow Read more

Aphorisms of Askandari

Shaykh Ahmad Abdur Rashid was invited to speak at a recent conference of shaykhs and scholars discussing the aphorisms in ”The Book of Wisdom” –  Al Hikam of Shaykh Ahmad ibn Ata Illah as-Sakandari . 

To hear Shaykh Ahmed Abdur Rashid’s talk given at this conference:

The Aphorisms of Iskandari: Action Items for Today’s To-Do List

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 The full talk is availabe in downloadable pdf

Bismillaahi-r-Rah-maani-r-Raheem

It is an honor and privilege to sit before you to share some thoughts and insights on one of the most relevant texts, not only for one who Read more

Seek knowledge from the Cradle to the Grave

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,”Verily the men of knowledge are the inheritors of the prophets” We invite you to browse through the readings  made available by The Circle Group.  Many are lectures given to public audiences in educational institutes and organizations in the U.S. and abroad.  We welcome Read more

Educating for Skilled Leadership

Community Paper Session: Educating for Skilled Leadership Introductory Remarks by Shaykh Ahmed Abdur Rashid As the Muslim population in the United States grows, attention is turning to ways in which Muslims might begin to hold leadership in proportion to their numbers. The 2000 AMC essay competition posed the question Why should Muslims run for public Read more

Status of Women in Islam

STATUS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM by Mitra Abdur Rashid I am by no means an authority on Islam, but I do come from a place where there is a spectrum of views on the subject of women in Islam. I grew up in Iran seeing my mother practice Islam in Read more

Women in Islam

Lecture Given by Sister Sharifa Alkhateeb At the AMSS conference at Georgetown University October 15, 2000 Salaam Aleykum, Baraka wa Ta’ali. (opening dua). I want to talk about the social cost of ignoring women. By that, I do not mean that all Muslims ignore women, Read more

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